Author Archives: Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

About Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

I'm a research librarian for Public Television, story teller, bike commuter, baker, music fiend, lover of reading & books, mother, wife, friend - and many more descriptive adjectives and nouns.

The Progression of “I’m Not Making Too Much for Christmas Dinner”

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

My family is pretty much…Italian. Especially my Mom.  Every year  around this time the conversation about Christmas Dinner plays itself out in this manner (which I would not trade for the world). A month before Christmas – possibly on Thanksgiving:  … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Food, Humor, love | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

BOOKSTORE! Oh Wait – you’re THAT kind of bookstore…

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

Oh how I love a good bookstore.  I’m not a browser per se, I like to go in an BUY many, many bookish things. I have some sort of disorder that doesn’t allow me to leave a bookstore with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Librarian, Reading | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Bumpy Nubs and Poking Threads: A Guest Post by Karen Perry

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

Originally posted on Michelle R. Terry :
I’m fascinated with the concept found in some Native American traditions that we have the ability to heal our entire lineage in both directions. It’s easy to see how the choices we make right…

Posted in Humor | 1 Comment

Hiraeth

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

Thirty nine years later and the memories still come – soft around the edges, filled with warmth and ensconcing me in tendrils of nostalgia.  October.  The month I belong to. The month that signals the end of hot summer days, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, nostalgia, Random Thoughts, Story | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

I Cannot Become Comfortably Numb

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

Warning: This is a little disjointed and possibly tangential. Just go with the flow ~  Two songs have been rolling around my head these past few weeks.  Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb and Franz Ferdinand’s Well That Was Easy.   In particular, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Mental Health, Music, Words, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Kickin’ it into Gear

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

“Obesity” Ugh – I saw that scary word on the printout of my visit to the doctor this past week. I had turned myself around when being weighed because I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty and I’d refused a scale … Continue reading →

Posted in Eating, Health, Mental Health, Random Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Whatever you’re “mad for” this week

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

That phrase keeps running through my mind –  “Whatever you’re ‘mad for’ this week” … six words written in a cruel fashion, meant to tear me down.   It worked. I was torn.  These words were written around March/April in an … Continue reading →

Posted in change, coping mechanisms, Family, Secrets | Tagged , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

In an Ironic Twist of Fate – I Eat My Words

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

I’m very excited this morning – Amazon has just informed me that my oil paint fine tip markers should be arriving today.  Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Yes, in an ironic twist of fate, I posted that I am not artistic and hate ‘doing … Continue reading →

Posted in art, change, painting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

I’ll Take Art History for $100, Alex

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

I should preface this post with: I love art and I love schools that have art classes.  This is a just a little tongue-in-cheek. The dread comes around 1:45PM Tuesdays and Thursdays. The day was Thursday.  The scene replays vividly … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Blogging, Humor, quitting, Story | Tagged , , , , , | 37 Comments

Bittersweet

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher

April… Spring…. Flowers…. Cakes, pies… and suicide…… April A bittersweet month – filled with change and firsts. Change is not my forte. Big change unsettles me. A new co-worker to train; a co-worker of 10 years says good-bye.  Feeling a … Continue reading →

Posted in change, death, grief | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments